vauxhall insignia road tests and consumer car reviews

Vauxhall Insignia TDI automatic aircon satnav 2009

Incredible spec for the price. Awful implementation of that spec. Flashy looks, expensive looking cockpit. The complete triumph of form over function. Terrible all round visibility for the driver with tiny tiny windows, view obscured by pillars and headrests and even a great bulge in the roof right in the middle of the windscreen. Electronic everything - from handbrake to aircon, to seat adjustment to wing mirror adjustment - with no manual override. The electronic handbrake and ventilation system in particular were a nightmare. The doors are so wide and curved outwards (with thick curved plastic mouldings on the interior that it’s often impossible to get out of the car when close-parked in a multistorey car park. To add insult to injury the central moulded drinks holder and armrest separating the driver from the front seat passenger makes it impossible for either of you to get out of the car on the opposite side. Can’t fault the roadholding or actual performance, it was as smooth and sweet at an illegal 90 as it was at 60. No question, you get a lot of flashy-looking swept-back car hight performance diesel for your money. So if you want a car to impress and drive fast in, go for it, but if you want a well designed easy to use, practical, safe and easy to understand vehicle at this price don’t get blinded by the spec. Go rent one for a couple of days from Europcar, that way you can endure the weeping frustration of it’s castastrophically impractical design and baffling user interface for yourself.